We’re eighteen days into this parenting gig and there are two notes to, uh, note.

First - yesterday (7/31/06) Matthew’s umbilical cord stump fell off! This was a little bittersweet for me - it was sort of gross, especially toward the end of its reign on Matthew’s body. Josh had primary cleaning responsibility on that one - I just couldn’t deal. But it’s the last remnant of me on Matthew’s body - the cord is cut and that stump falling off is the last little proof that he once came from me.

Josh laughed at me when I said this. “He’s got half your DNA!”

Man, it’s so not the same. So, right now, the little bit left to his stump is sitting on Josh’s dresser. I am equally torn between throwing it away and keeping it to embarass him when he’s 18. I haven’t decided yet.

Second - today (8/1), we gave Matthew his first bathtub bath! Before I regale you with this tale, let me say first that occasionally Matthew gets Very Offended by the world (or by Josh or me changing his diaper) that he cries and shouts himself into a Frenzy, and by Frenzy, I mean “I am going to Scream until SOMEONE in CHARGE listens to my DEMANDS! And then I’m going to forget to breathe momentarily until I turn PURPLE! And then I will remember to BREATHE and then SCREAM AGAIN!” Josh and I are sort of amused by this - he is definitely showing signs of being a drama queen.

At any rate, imagine the Frenzy in the tub, and you’ve got Matthew. He was NOT happy about being bathed! We made it quick and snappy, though, and now his hair smells nice and he’s all lotioned up (his pediatrician gave us some Aveeno samples to try with him to help with his dry skin) and hair spiked out all over the place. So cute.

Anyway, things are going well ’round these parts. We’re all pretty tired, but at least I am trying to do what I can to nap, and Josh has been great. Josh’s sister is in town visiting and she helped with a load of laundry yesterday, for which I was very grateful. In a couple of minutes I’m going to check on HRH (His Royal Highness) and see how he’s doing - it’s almost time for a feeding.

More later, I’m sure.